FAYETTEVILLE, Ark – The University of Arkansas celebrated its 17 annual walk to the trail of tears historic site on campus. Monday, October 11th many Americans celebrated Columbus Day instead of Indigenous Peoples Day.
Christopher Columbus was celebrated for his exploration and colonization of America when it was Native Americans who had already planted roots and called this land home.
In 1492 Columbus was said to have discovered the new world, while scientists at the Smithsonian discovered human artifacts dating 20,000 years ago.
It is in honor of Indigenous people that the university celebrates their culture and respects the sacrifices they made.
Professors were seen walking with other faculty and students from the Arkansas union to Martin Luther King Boulevard, to the trail of tears historic site.
Fayetteville’s Mayor Lioneld Jordan made an appearance at the historic site to announce the official renaming of Columbus Day to Indigenous peoples day in Fayetteville Arkansas.
The historic site is where many met Gabby Nagel an 18-year-old Western Band Cherokee member.
She thanked everyone for being there and, “ honoring indigenous peoples’ day,” because, “We can forget about Christopher Columbus, not a fan of him.”
Christopher Columbus’s exploration of the new world ultimately caused Englishmen to try and colonize the Indigenous people before killing and removing them from land.
The trail of tears was the 1,000 miles that mark where native Americans were forced to walk after being forcibly removed from their land and homes.
Indigenous people celebrate their ancestor’s sacrifice and remember Americans’ mistake of trying to remove their people.
Gaby will always be able to remember where she was surrounded by a supportive community when Columbus day was forever changed.
By: Hailey Middleton